Bredi Bugaboo

[Kristy_07]

Hello,

I hate to think my first real thread is just asking the same old questions, but I *would* love some advice on a fairly common topic

I have just purchased a new Bredli. At the moment, I am a one-snake girl, so this is an upgrade from a great little Stimmy I had for 8 years previously.

The new Bredli, named Jagger (after Mick Jagger, who is looking decidedly reptilian as he ages!), is about 10mths, and is still not terribly relaxed when we handle him. This is new to me, as I had the stimmy from a hatchling, and he never struck once. So, currently, we are managing each other I've had him about 3 weeks. Jagger is not excessively aggressive, just quick between the fingers, and snappy at movement. However, I can't wait for him to settle, and be happy, relaxed, and interested in us instead of stressing

So, the (standard) question: What's everyone's advice on whether this sort of snappiness is common/normal in young Bredlis? And what do I need to be doing to make him comfortable and relaxed when he is out?

The environment: He's in about a 20L plastic fish tank, with water, hidey, and plastic leaves for somewhere higher to sit. He's fed roughly 3 weaner mice every 7-10 days in a separate enclosure, and he's enthusiastic about them. No problems there. I'm in Brisbane, so, as advised by the seller, haven't got him on any heat at the moment. My house heats up considerably during the day, and the animals are not sluggish as weather is still warm. He's handled every couple of days for fairly short intervals, 30mins at most. No birds or rodents in house, and fed with tongs. Also, I'm not too keen on starting to use a hook - I never had to with my stimmy, and I would rather not.

I think that about it. I'd like to add, I have thoroughly researched other threads and the web, and the information is quite conflicting - use a hook, don't use a hook, handle with confidence and don't be bullied, handle gently so as not to stress him out, it's normal behaviour for young Bredlis, or you've got a "striker"!

So, what are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading, and I'll post some pics today of him, the beardie, and the dogs

Cheers, Kristy

 

[JAS101]

Well im going to confuse u more , some times i use the hook and some times i dont [ deppends on the snakes mood] . snappiness is common with all snakes under a year , some are angels and some are spawn of satan . I say let the snake settle in for a few weeks with no handling and then slowly start to handle for 5-10 mins at a time and see how u go .

 

[Kristy_07]

Thanks for your input, Zoojas. That's basically what we've done - left him alone for a couple of weeks, and now are taking him out for short intervals.

And whilst I said I wasn't keen on using a hooks, I just used a chopstick to help me pose him for a photo, and it worked quite well, without too much fuss from the snake! So maybe I'll need to reconsider

Thanks again!

Anyone else got a different opinion?